Woman gives thanks for helping handicapped

Kudos to the great, caring people of Manitowoc. A year ago, I started a project for the handicapped sponsored by Investors Community Bank. This project asked people to take a minute of their time to help the handicapped with small things that are hard for them to do. It’s ongoing and successful, due to you!

Patti Zarling of the HTR wrote a wonderful article about this. To my surprise, the project took off in other communities, with The Sheboygan Press running a cover spread on this project in their special edition.

You don’t know me. I’m the older lady, with blonde hair who uses an electric shopping cart. You opened the door for me, reach for things on the shelves, in freezers, in dairy, bakery doors, pick up things that fall and help empty my shopping cart. You are men, women and even children – young and old – who have given your kindness to me and many others.

You have no idea just how much all of us appreciate your help. I have always felt that if you show a kindness to others, you get it back over and over again.

To the handicapped, we are only human and do not like to ask for help. I am saying: ask when you need it! People near you are always willing to help and never refuse. It’s a two-way street with you getting help and they feel so good to have done it.

Please always smile and show your gratitude, for this is true kindness.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who cared to help a handicapped person in any way you could. Keep up the good work!

This is a great community and the people are even greater.

God bless you for your kindness.

Shirley Kelly
Manitowoc

Congress needs to fix therapy cap

As an occupational therapist, I've seen how my profession can help empower clients across the lifespan. My profession has helped people get their lives back after illness and injury. Occupational therapy specifically helps my clients return to the activities that increase function and make them feel whole again. However, Congress' inability to fix a 20-year-old flawed policy means some of our nation's most vulnerable are facing a tough choice: pay out of pocket to continue necessary therapy, or halt therapy services — and stop the recovery process.

On Jan. 1, 2018, a limitation on Medicare Outpatient Therapy Services, also known as the "therapy cap," went into place after Congress failed to extend the "exceptions process" that previously kept the cap from taking effect for patients with a demonstrated need for additional services. Currently, for 2018, the therapy cap places a financial limit of $2,010 on occupational therapy services and a financial limit of $2,010 on physical therapy and speech-language-pathology services combined. The therapy cap applies to most Medicare Part B providers of therapy services.

In my practice, I've seen how stopping or even postponing therapy services can be detrimental. Oftentimes, elderly adults will have a stroke and therapy will have to be stopped as a result of the therapy cap, which can greatly hinder progress.

Congress has indicated it is committed to fixing the problem, but has not yet taken action. While a policy can be applied retroactively, therapy cannot. For many conditions, if you miss the window of recovery by delaying treatment or decreasing intensity, that window may be closed forever. For degenerative conditions, lack of access to therapy can mean losing skills that will never be regained.

Fixing the therapy cap needs to happen and it needs to happen now.

Mitchell Voss
Mantiowoc

Vote Patricia Koppa for circuit court judge

My wife and I moved to Manitowoc in 1990, when I began my second job as a lawyer at the law firm of Nash, Spindler, Grimstad & McCracken, LLP.

Shortly after joining the community, I met attorney Patricia Koppa. She was on the other side of several cases, so, naturally, we were at odds with regard to the dispute at hand. We were not, however, at odds with regard to the willingness to work very hard and with sincerity and passion.

As it turns out, at that time, my wife was providing in-home daycare and two of her kids were Pat Koppa’s daughters. I had the chance to see attorney Koppa in many capacities, the most important of which were as a parent and a legal colleague. To me, these are two of the greatest roles any of us undertakes. Pat Koppa was, and is, dedicated, hardworking, reflective and fair.

I have no hesitation endorsing attorney Patricia Koppa for the position of circuit court judge of Manitowoc County. She is well-suited to serve the citizens of this county fairly and impartially.

Indeed, I believe her personal and professional life reflect the ideals and qualities most associated with the heavy obligations of a judge.

It is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to endorse Patricia Koppa for the upcoming judicial vacancy. My partner, attorney Ryan Graff, asked that I include him in this endorsement. Each of us has considerable experience with attorney Koppa as a small claims court commissioner and as the Register in Probate.